Dustproof center iron for walking beams



Oct. 14, 1930. w. c. TROUT 1,778,131

DUSTPROOF CENTER IRON FOR WALKING BEAMS Filed Sept. 4,-1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1930. w. c. TROUT 1,773,131

DUSTPROQF CENTER IRON FOR WALKING BEAMS I Filed Sept. 4, 1928 2Sheets-Shet- 2 I IV Jwumtoi wwmc rm v tudinally of the bearing shaft.

, U center Patented Oct. 14, 1930 WALTER CHAR-LES recur, or LUFKIN,TEXAS DUSTPROOF GENTER IRON FOR WALKING BEAMS Application filedSeptember 4, 1928. Serial 110. 303,840.

My invention relates tocenter irons for use upon Samson posts tosupportthe wall;- ing beam. It is adapted for use particularly in oilfield operations on standard drilling b and pumping'rigs.

The ordinary type of center iron is formed with a trunnion supported ateach end in 1 open bearings. The objection to this type of bearing isthat it is exposed to dust and to the action of the weather and wearsrapidly. It is an object of my invention to provide a supporting hearingwhich shallhave a wide support for the full width of the walking beamand to have this 3 support fully'enclosed'and protected from dust andthe weather. a

It is also an object to provide an effective means for lubricating thebearing so that the moving parts of the bearing member will be runningin oilat all times. a

' It is a further'object to provide a center bearing for the Walkingbeam of simple and strong construction having effective means forattaching it to the Samson post so that it may be adjusted to set thewalking beam at the desired angle relative to the post. In the drawingherewith Ihave illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig.1.'being a central vertical section longi- Fig. 2. is a top plan view ofthe bearing member partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a centralvertical section on the plane 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. '4; is an assembly viewillustrating the position of the center bearing relative to the post andwalking beam.

WVit-h particular reference to 4;, it is to i be noted that the centerbearing, indicated at is positioned upo n the upper end of a Sampost fordinary construction and serves to support on it-s upper side a walkingbeam 7, also of ordinary construction. The wall -v ing beam is given. arocking motion upon the crank arm 9 and pitman 10. The opposite endof'the.walkingbeam has a pump rod 11 secured thereto, said rod beingreciprocated in the well in pumping. It is to be understood to that theusual cable employed in drilling may for the walking beam bearing Athrough a crank shaft 8,

be secured in the place OfllllG pump rod at the forward endot the beam.

The construction of the center iron is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.There is a base plate 12 adapted to seat upon the upper end of: theSamson post. Said base plate is formed with a central opening 13 thereinto receive a bolt 1 1 by means ot which it is secured centrz lly to theSamson post. At each end and at the sides are formed arcuate slots 15';to receive set screws or bolts clamping the same each end adjustably tothe post. The slots are formed on an are about the center 14 allowing anadjustment of the plate upon the post to allow the swinging of the beamrelative to the Samson post to a position properly aligned between theoperating crank arm and the well.

The base plate is formed with supporting members 17 projecting upwardlyfrom the base at each end and concaved longitudinally of the plate toreceive the bearing 16 for the shaft 15 on the walking; beam. Saidbearing 16 is supported at each end upon said supports and between thesupports 17 the base plate is recessed at 18 to allow the passage of asleeve 19 which will be later referred to. The stationary bearing 16 isheld to the base by dowel pins 20. and I have shown two of tl'iese. oneadjacent each end of the bearing.

As will be seen particularly from Fig. 1, the

bearing plate 16 is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves 22which extend across the plate nearly to the upper edge thereof. FromFig. 3 it will be noted that there is a longitudinal channel 523whichserves to coniectthe grooves 22 at their upper edges longitudinallyof the bearing.

An inner lining 24; for the bearing member is provided, this liningbeing preferably of babbit, bronze or similar bearing material having alow co-ef'rlcient of friction. The dowel pins 20 extend through thislining member to hold the same rigidly in position. Small openings orchannels 25 are extended through the lining member connecting the samewith the grooves 22 so that lubricant can find easy access to the shaft.At each end of theshaft 15 I provide an upper bearing member 26 whichsurrounds the upper side of the shaft and is bolted firmly in positionby bolts 27. Within the bearing member thus provided is a bearing block28which fits along the upper side of the shaft and serves as a thrustmember on the upper side of the said shaft. The block is secured inposition by cap screws 29.

'The walking beam is supported upon a plate 30 which extendstransversely of the shaft 25 and is adapted to move with said shaft. Itis fixed to saidshaft .by means of cap screws 31. which extenddownwardly through the plate and into th e upper side of theshaft. Theupper portion of the plate is extended inwardly along the upper side ofthe shaft and a piece of packing material 32 is fitted between the plateand the shaft, the

' ed particularly from Fig. 3. This sleeve surrounds the shaft andthelower bearing to pro- "vide a'housing thereforto protect the bearinfrom dust and dirtand also to form a container for the lubricant whichmight otherwise leak away from'the bearing member. Between the ends ofthe base plate the sleeve lil fitswithin the recess 18in'the base plateand its ends make sliding contact with the plate and a packingmaterialindicated at 35 is set into the ends of the sleeve to'bear against theends of the recess 18, making a'fiujid-tight fit therewith. This ring ofpacking entirely encloses the shaft and makes a fluidseal to prevent theloss of lubricant, and prevents the entrance of dust.

At each end of the shaft 15 and the bear ing member a plate 36 closesthe end of the bearing housing provided the plates as described and alubricant cup 37 is formed on said plate 36 into which lubricant may bepoured to supply the bearings with lubricant in the manner previouslynoted. The level 'of'the lubricant is preferably about the centerof theshaftso that thelubricant will flow along the channel 23 to supply eachof the grooves 22 with a full quota of lubricant. A

cap plate38 is formedupon the upper end of the lubricant chamber tocl'osethe same when in use. I may also provide ascrew V plug 39 at thelower end of the chamber to allow cleaning of the lubricant chamber whendesired.

The plate 30upon which the Walking beam supported has a plurality ofopenings 40 therein by means of which the walkingbeam may be securedfirmlyto the plate. I v In the operation of the device the weight of thewalkingbeam will be supported upon the plate 30 centrallybetween theends of the shaft 15 and the Weight ofthe walking beam will'rest uponthe bearings as described." It will be noted that the ends of the shaftare entirely closed by the upper and lower bearing plates, while thecentral portion of the shaft is surrounded by the sleeve 19 secured tothe plate 30 upon which the beam is sesecured. Thus when the beam isrocked with the. shaft '15'upon the bearings the sleeve 19 willoscillate with the shaft and the beam. The supporting plate 12 and thebearing members will be held stationary onthe upper endof the'Samsonpost, 7

When the deviceisoperated it will be supplied plentifully with oil orother lubricant so-that the level of the lubricant will be high enoughtofill the connecting channel 23 between the grooves-22.

If the walking beam is not in accurate alignment between the operatingshaft and the pump rod such alignmentmay be secured by adjusting thebase plate 12 upon the Samson'pos't thro'ughset screws within the slots15.'as previously noted. 7 This device has the advantage of obtain-j inga full support forthe walking beam for Instead of p the entire length ofthe shaft. being supported simply at its ends the bear ing shaft 15issupported throughout its entire length. This-fact, together with themanner in which the shaft is enclosed and lubricated, unite in forming asubstantialand dustproof bearing which is capable of dure for longperiods of time.

What I clann is new is: p

1. Acenter 1ron comprising a base plate,

proper lubrication and will be enabled to en- 'having'a recessed centerportion and bearing supports at each end,'a bearing plate fixed on-saidbase plate, a shaft mounted to oscillate on said bearing plate, abeamplate secured to said shaft, and means movable with said beam platesurrounding said shaft and said bearing plate to prevent entrance ofdust to said bearing.

p 2. A center iron comprising a base plate having its upper facerecessed between its "ends, a bearing plate supported at-its ends onsaid base plate, a shaft mount-ed to bear "for its full length on saidbearing plate, and a. beam plate fixed to said shaft and carrying adustproofsleeve to surround said bearing plate and shaft.

3. A center iron comprising a base having itsupper face recessed betweenits ends, a bearing-plate supported atits ends on said base plate, ashaft mounted to bear for its full length on said bearing plate, meansto allow said base plate to bemoved rotatively to adjust the position ofthe beam,

plate 1 andabe'am plate fixed to saidshaft and carryinga-sleeve toco-operate with the said base plate to completelyfenclose said shaft. 4.A'center iron comprising a base plate having its upper face recessedbetween its ends, abaring plate'supported'at its ends on said baseplate, a shaft mounted to bear for 1ts full length on said bearingplate, a beam 7 ends, a bearing plate supported at its ends on said baseplate, ashaft mounted to bear 7 for its full length on said bearingplate, a

ing plate with beam plate fixed to said shaft, and a sleeve fixed onsaid beam plate and surrounding said shaft and bearing plate, saidsleeve making a fluid tight fit Withsaid base plateand bearing plate,and means to lubricate said bearing.

6. A center iron comprising a base plate, bearing supports at each. endthereof, a beara series of transverse grooves on said supports, asemi-cylindrical bearing liner on said bearing plate, there being openings in said bearing liner communicating with grooves in said bearingplate, means to supply lubricant to said grooves, a shaft in said liner,and a beam supporting plate on said shaft.

7. A center iron comprising a base plate, bearing supports at each endthereof, a bearing plate with a series of transverse grooves on said.supports, a semi-cylindrical bearing liner on said bearing plate, therebeing openings in said bearing liner communicating with grooves in'saidbearing plate, a lubricant cup at each end of said bearing plateadapted to supply lubricant to said bearing liner, a shaft in saidliner, and a beam-supporting plate on said shaft.

8. In a center iron, a base plate, bearing supports at each end thereof,a bearing plate with aseries of transverse grooves fixed on saidsupports, a shaft mounted to oscillate in said bearing plate, abeam-supporting plate fixed to said shaft, and a sleeve on said beamsupporting plate surrounding said bearing between said bearing supports.

9. In a center iron, a base plate, bearing supports at each end thereof,a bearing plate with a series of transverse grooves fixed on saidsupports, a shaft mounted to oscillate in said bearing plate, abeam-supporting plate fixed to said shaft, and means mounted tooscillate with said shaft and enclose said bearing plate and shaftduring the operation of the device.

10. In a center bearing, a base plate, end supports thereon, a bearingplate on said supports, a shaft supported in said bearing plate, a beamplate fixed on said oscillation in said bearing, and a sleeve on saidbeam plate and surrounding said bearing plate and shaft between saidsupports, and

* making a fluid tight seal with said supports for the purposedescribed. I

11. A dustproof center iron, comprising in combination a base plate, alower bearing plate supported thereby, a shaft supported on said platefor its full length, upper bearing members retaining said shaft on saidlower bearing plate, a beam supporting plate attached to said shaft, anda circular sleeve carried by said beam plate of such diameter to receivesaid shaft and said lower bearing plate therein, and to cooperate withsaid base plate and said upper bearing members to enclose said shaft andsaid lower bearing plate.

12. A dustproof center iron comprising a base plate, lower and upperbearing plates, a beam supporting plate, and a sleeve carried thereby, apacking between said upper bearing plate and said base plate and sleeve,whereby the shaft and bearing plate are enclosed.

13. A dustproof center iron comprising a base plate, lower and upperbearing plates, a beam supporting plate, and a sleeve carried thereby, apacking between said upper hearing plate and said base plate and sleeve,whereby the shaft and bearing plate are enclosed, and dustproof endplates to enclose the ends of said shaft.

14. A dust-proof center iron, comprising a base plate, a, shaft, a lowerbearing plate, adapted to support said shaft over its entire length,bearing blocks, upper bearing plates retaining said shaft and said blockupon said lower plate, a beam supporting member, and means including ahousing disposed around and plates at the ends of said shaft tocompletely enclose the same and to prevent the entrance of dust.

15. A dustproof center iron comprising a base plate, lower and upperbearing plates, a beam supporting plate, and a sleeve carried thereby, apacking between said upper bearing plate and said beam plate and sleeve,whereby the shaft and lower bearing plate are enclosed, dustproof endplates to enclose the ends of said shaft, and an oil cup and covertherefor carried by said end plates.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 28th day ofAugust, A. D. 1928.

WVALTER CHARLES TROUT.

shaft for lUU

